If you're a hip young couple and can find fun anywhere, how about starting V-Day with a little side trip to Manila Ocean Park (Behind the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila. Tel. 567-7777)? Not just for kids, this place–in the middle of this complex lies a vast, cool and dark room filled with fish swimming around you from all sides, and a few benches to sit and take in the aquatic spectacle. Perfect for a little less conversation and a little more (PG-13) action. When I went there they had these cool glowing cubes in the center of the room where you could park yourself. Quiet cool, unless of course there are screaming kiddies running amuck all around you! (Hopefully not.)

Time your visit and exit just in time to see the sunset over some cocktails at White Moon Bar, right outside MOP. Then head over to Makansutra Asian Food Village (2/F Sunset Quay Manila Ocean Park, Luneta Park, Manila.   Tel. 567-3512) and have some reasonably priced Singapore street food for dinner–oyster cake, a spicy laksa or beef rendang is exotic, delicious, and may induce some inner fire and sweat. Tres romantique, no? Ooh la la!

If you're a child of the '80s and '90s, there are still places for you to reminisce. Now long gone are the days of what I call "Manila fine dining"–places with waiters clad in white from head to toe, menus leaning heavily on hearty, rich Spanish influenced dishes that were often served by hand, with the meal ending in some dated sweet treat like crepe Samurai or coupe Romanoff (that's vanilla ice cream with strawberries to you!). Sadly, the old guard of that era–the bastions of garlicky cuisine–like Casa Marcos, Ciudad Fernandina, and their ilk, are long gone. Last man standing is one of Malate's favorite sons, the late, great Larry Cruz' original Café Adriatico (1790 M. Adriatico St., Remedios Circle, Malate, Manila Tel. 523-7924). This was one of the date places of yore, where Mike Francis-listening, The Bar-guzzling dudes decked in Benetton and smelling of Kouros took their Esprit-clad goddesses for some (ehem) lengua or gambas (oh fine...guilty as charged!). Yes, sir, you can bet that many of the "iced tea and carbonara" ordering ilk had their tastes formed right here. Come here to experience all that certain je ne sais quoi that made Café Ad click, and sit by a window, hold hands and have some ensaymada and a cup of rich, thick chocolate eh (though I think you can pass on the Mike Francis nostalgia for now). An alternative would be that other hold out up north, Café Ysabel (455 P.Guevarra St., San Juan, Metro Manila. Tel. 725-5089) in Greenhills. Every time I pass by that area, I get De Loreaned back to 1986. It hasn't changed much except for that little culinary school up front. Thankfully, their rather voluminous menu is updated with very current food, such as a decent steak with chimichurri sauce that I kinda dig, or decadent burgers topped with foie gras–but in the collective minds of Gen X kids, they're having callos, or pasta gamberoni, or yes–spaghetti carbonara.

If you're a bit strapped for cash–and who isn't these days–fear not! There are still options left for romance! Buy some vino and some nibbles of your choice (some suggestions: very reasonably priced cold cuts from Earle's Deli, G/F Tower II, The Columns Condominium, Ayala Ave., Makati City. Tel. 901-8782); hot dogs from S&R; heart-shaped pizzas from Shakey's; or even V-Day Gonuts Donuts) and head off for a nice open space and just enjoy each other's company. The Ayala Triangle Park is a great green (and WiFi-equipped) space in the middle of chaotic Makati where you can laze under the greenery and use your laptops to YM each other love messages and take Photobooth pics of yourselves kissing. Or better still, head to the Manila American Cemetery And Memorial (open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.): a beautiful spot (in a melancholy sort of way) to sit and read each other passages from the works of many an incurable romantic's favorite poet, Pablo Neruda.

So there you have it–romance is very much alive and kicking, and need not be done in a cookie cutter manner. As for me and my woman? We're having siomai and watching chick flicks in our pajamas…but I'll make sure to be torridly holding hands.

Photographs from Star (Spiral), kasseopeia (Earle's Deli), Hyatt Hotel and Casino (Fireplace Grill interiors), Yvette Tan (Fireplace Grill steaks)Kat Tabalon (WhiteMoon Bar), ljcrestaurants.com (Cafe Adriatico), John Javellana (Manila Ocean Park).